The Elmbridge Hundred - A Visual Journey to be launched in November features images of the Black Pond on Esher Commons, Concorde at Brooklands Museum, Cowey Sale, Walton and Painshill Park, Cobham

Elmbridge life, people and landscapes are to be brought to life in a book due to be printed later this year.

The Elmbridge Hundred – A Visual Journey will document the beauty of the borough in pictures and include some of its current residents.

Featured sites include the Black Pond on Esher Commons, Concorde at Brooklands Museum, Cowey Sale, Walton and Painshill Park, Cobham.

The book was inspired by The Elmbridge Hundred, a project that featured the borough’s most famous people. It started in 2009 and featured biographies of influential figures such as Sir Barnes Wallis and John Lennon, from which the top 100 were chosen.

The project inspired Walton resident and photographer Astrid McGechan to put together the book.

She said: “The Elmbridge Hundred picked up on the famous residents and they were researched and put up on a website. A panel then selected the 100 most influential out of the list.

“I picked up on this theme and thought why don’t I put together a book with 100 photographs of the area.”

Mrs McGechan, of Shaw Drive, enlisted the help of friend and landscape photographer Charlie Waite, plus local children.

She ran a competition among local schools including RES, Hinchley Wood School and Esher High, asking for budding photographers to send in their best efforts, with 10 of them to be included in the book.

She also had help from students at Brooklands College, who helped her on the portrait shoot as well as designing the cover.

The other 90 pictures were taken by Mrs McGechan, 45, featuring not only local landscapes but also portraits of some of the people who make Elmbridge tick.

“I have a butcher, a chimney sweep, a cleaning lady, a policeman; all from Elmbridge,” she said.

The book is to be launched in November alongside an exhibition featuring a selection of photographs at Riverhouse Barn, Walton, with proceeds going to the Princess Alice Hospice.

Mrs McGechan, an office manager, is now looking for help to fund the printing of the book.

She has already secured sponsorship from Mundays solicitors in Cobham but wants to raise another £2,000 through crowdfunding, where people are invited to make pledges to help with the cost.

This money, about a fifth of the total cost of producing the book, will pay for producing a hardback version.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.